N F O C F g r o u p Seat Belt Survey Q1. When travelling in a car, do you wear your seat belt all of the time, most of the time, some of the time, or never? The majority of Canadians (85%) wear their seat belts all of the time. Canadians in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are most likely to wear their seat belts all of the time (93%), followed closely by Quebecers (92%). Albertans are least likely to wear their seat belts all of the time (74%), and 6% claim to never wear their seat belts. Women are significantly more likely than men to buckle up all of the time (90% vs. 81%). Who Wear Their Seat Belts All Of The Time Canadians 85 Atlantic 79 Quebec 92 Ontario 85 Manitoba / Saskatchewan 93 Alberta 74 B.C. Male 80 81 Female 90 0 % 100 NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 1
TABLE 1 Frequency Of Wearing Seat Belt When Travelling In A Car Atlantic Region/Province Gender Quebec Ontario MB/SK Alberta B.C. Male Female Base = Actual (1018) (105) (247) (336) (85) (93) (152) (438) (580) Wear Seat Belts: % % % % % % % % % All Of The Time 85 79 92 85 93 74 80 81 90 Most Of The Time 10 14 6 10 3 11 15 11 8 Some Of The Time 3 4 1 3 2 7 2 4 1 Never 2 3 * 2 2 6 3 4 1 Don t Know/Refused * 1 1 * * Figures percentaged on a base of less than 100 should be interpreted with caution. * Less than 0.5% Note: Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding. NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 2
Q2. When driving in a car, do you make sure that your passengers have buckled up? Eight-in-ten (83%) Canadians check to make sure their passengers are buckled up. Younger Canadians, aged between 18 and 24 years, are least likely to check up on their passengers to make sure everyone is buckled up (74%). Regionally, Quebecers are least likely to check up on their passengers (79%). Canadians in the Atlantic provinces are the nation s most diligent drivers, with nine-in-ten (89%) making sure their passengers have buckled up. Who Make Sure Their Passengers Have Buckled Up When Driving A Car Canadians 83 Atlantic 89 Quebec 79 Ontario Manitoba / Saskatchewan Alberta B.C. 85 82 81 85 Age 18-24 74 Age 25-34 Age 35-49 83 84 Age 50-64 90 Age 65+ 81 0 % 100 NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 3
TABLE 2A Whether Make Sure Passengers Have Buckled Up When Driving A Car Atlantic Region/Province Gender Quebec Ontario MB/SK Alberta B.C. Male Female Base = Actual (1018) (105) (247) (336) (85) (93) (152) (438) (580) Make Sure Passengers Have Buckled Up: % % % % % % % % % Yes 83 89 79 85 82 81 85 82 84 No 10 5 12 8 16 14 7 13 6 Do Not Drive 6 6 10 6 2 3 7 3 10 Don t Know/Refused 1 * * 1 2 1 1 TABLE 2B Whether Make Sure Passengers Have Buckled Up When Driving A Car 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Base = Actual (1018) (144) (191) (301) (201) (181) Make Sure Passengers Have Buckled Up: Age % % % % % % Yes 83 74 83 84 90 81 No 10 19 12 11 4 4 Do Not Drive 6 6 5 4 5 14 Don t Know/Refused 1 1 2 * Figures percentaged on a base of less than 100 should be interpreted with caution. * Less than 0.5% Note: Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding. NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 4
Q3. Thinking about the last time you travelled somewhere by taxi, did you wear your seat belt? Fewer than one-half (45%) of Canadians wore their seat belt the last time they travelled in a taxi. Even among those who use a seat belt all of the time when travelling in a car, only 47% buckled up when travelling in a taxi. Although Albertans are least likely to buckle up all of the time when travelling in a car (74%), they are most likely to use a seat belt when in a taxi: over one-half (54%) of Albertans did wear a seat belt the last time they travelled by taxi. Quebecers, meanwhile, are the least likely to buckle up in a cab (40%). Perhaps surprisingly, younger Canadians are more likely than older Canadians to use a seat belt when in a taxi. One-half (50%) of 18 to 24 yearolds buckled up the last time they travelled by taxi, compared to only onethird (34%) of those 65 years of age or older. NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 5
Who Wore A Seat Belt Last Time They Travelled Somewhere By Taxi Canadians Atlantic Quebec Ontario Manitoba / Saskatchewan Alberta B.C. Age 18-24 Age 25-34 Age 35-49 Age 50-64 Age 65+ Buckle Up All Of The Time In A Car 45 48 40 43 46 54 49 50 47 44 48 34 47 0 % 100 NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 6
TABLE 3A Whether Wore A Seat Belt The Last Time Travelled Somewhere By Taxi Atlantic Region/Province Gender Quebec Ontario MB/SK Alberta B.C. Male Female Base = Actual (1018) (105) (247) (336) (85) (93) (152) (438) (580) Wore Seat Belt In Taxi: % % % % % % % % % Yes 45 48 40 43 46 54 49 43 46 No 29 24 29 32 20 34 27 32 27 Don t Remember 14 21 13 14 22 7 12 16 12 Don t Know/Refused 12 8 18 12 12 6 12 9 15 TABLE 3B Whether Wore A Seat Belt The Last Time Travelled Somewhere By Taxi Age Wear Seat Belt All Of The Time In A Car 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Base = Actual (1018) (876) (144) (191) (301) (201) (181) % % % % % % % Wore Seat Belt In Taxi: Yes 45 47 50 47 44 48 34 No 29 25 32 35 37 23 15 Don t Remember 14 14 11 11 10 14 28 Don t Know/Refused 12 14 7 8 10 15 24 Figures percentaged on a base of less than 100 should be interpreted with caution. * Less than 0.5% Note: Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding. NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 7
Q4. Some people we spoke to earlier described some of their opinions on traffic safety issues. I would now like to read you some of these statements and, for each statement that I read, please tell me if you Agree Strongly, Agree Somewhat, Disagree Somewhat, or Disagree Strongly with that statement. Car Accident Victims Who Did Not Wear Their Seat Belts Should Pay For Some Of Their Medical Bills More than one-half (56%) of Canadians agree, to some extent, that car accident victims who did not wear their seat belts should pay for some of their medical bills. Support for this statement is particularly strong in Alberta and B.C., where almost two-thirds (63% and 62%, respectively) agree. Quebecers are least likely to agree (44%). I Would Definitely Wear A Seat Belt If I Knew That I d Have To Pay For Some Of My Medical Bills If I Got Into An Accident This statement was asked only of those Canadians who, at times, do not wear their seat belts when travelling in a car (i.e., wear a seat belt Most Of The Time, Some Of The Time, or Never ). This policy would encourage three-quarters (74%) of non-bucklers to wear their seat belts, with almost one-half (46%) agreeing strongly that they would wear a seat belt if they knew they would have to pay for some of their medical bills if they got into an accident. When Seated On An Airplane, People Should Always Wear Their Seat Belts, Not Just During Take-Off And Landing Canadians are not convinced it is necessary for airplane passengers to always be wearing their seat belts. Just over one-half (57%) of Canadians agree that airplane passengers should always wear their seat belts. Women are more likely than men to agree with this statement (63% vs. 51%). NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 8
Children Under 12 Years Of Age Should Never Be Allowed To Sit In The Front Seat Of A Car Four-in-ten (40%) Canadians agree strongly that children under 12 should never be allowed to sit in the front seat of a car. Overall, six-in-ten (60%) Canadians agree with this statement at all. Atlantic Canadians in particular are in strong agreement, with one-half (50%) agreeing strongly (overall, 70% agree with this statement at all). Women are more likely than men to agree that children under 12 should never be allowed in the front seat of a car (64% vs. 55%). Car Drivers Should Be Allowed To Decide For Themselves Whether Or Not They Want To Wear A Seat Belt Support for this statement is strongest in Alberta: nearly one-half (47%) of Albertans agree, with one-third (34%) agreeing strongly. In comparison, only one-in-four (25%) Canadians agree with this statement. Car Passengers Should Be Allowed To Decide For Themselves Whether Or Not They Want To Wear A Seat Belt Again, the strongest levels of agreement with this statement are expressed by Albertans, where four-in-ten (42%) agree. Nation-wide, less than three-in-ten (28%) Canadians agree with this statement. Canadians who only wear their seat belts some or most of the time are the stronger supporters of this statement (51% and 41%, respectively) than are those who always wear their seat belts (25%). NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 9
All School Buses Should Provide Seat Belts For Passengers There is some controversy regarding the safety of seat belts in buses (with the Canada Safety Council reporting that research conducted by Transport Canada did not convincingly prove that seat belts actually create a safer environment in school buses). 1 Nevertheless, four-in-ten (42%) Canadians agree strongly that all school buses should be fitted with seat belts. In total, seven-in-ten (71%) Canadians agree with this statement. Regionally, Quebecers are less likely to agree than Canadians elsewhere in the country, although a majority (63%) still believe that seat belts should be installed on school buses. All Public Transit Buses Should Provide Seat Belts For Passengers Compared to seat belts on school buses, Canadians are less likely to agree that seat belts should be provided on public transit buses. However, more than one-half (55%) of Canadians agree that public transit buses should be fitted with seat belts for passengers. Canadians in Atlantic Canada are particularly supportive of this policy (74% agree), while those in Quebec are least likely to agree (45% agree). Women are more likely than men to support the introduction of seat belts in public transit buses (62% agree vs. 48%, respectively). Seat Belts Save Lives Even though 15% of Canadians do not wear their seat belts all of the time when travelling in a car, Canadians almost unanimously agree (94%) that seat belts save lives, with more than three-in-four (77%) Canadians agreeing strongly. Albertans are less likely to agree than Canadians in general: only eight-in-ten (81%) agree with the statement Seat Belts Save Lives. Agreement is strongest in Atlantic Canada (97% agree). 1 Canada Safety Council, Seat-belts in School Buses? (http://www.safetycouncil.org/info/traffic/schbusbelt.htm) Downloaded October 2, 2002. NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 10
TABLE 4A Level Of Agreement With Statements About Traffic Safety Atlantic Region/Province Gender Quebec Ontario MB/SK Alberta B.C. Male Female Base = Actual (1018) (105) (247) (336) (85) (93) (152) (438) (580) Level Of Agreement With Statements: % % % % % % % % % Car Accident Victims Who Did Not Wear Their Seat Belts Should Pay For Some Of Their Medical Bills Agree Strongly 23 16 17 26 19 26 29 24 21 Agree Somewhat 33 43 27 33 36 38 33 33 33 Disagree Somewhat 18 18 25 16 19 15 12 16 20 Disagree Strongly 21 20 28 19 20 19 20 22 21 Don t Know/Refused 5 4 4 6 6 3 7 5 5 Strongly/Somewhat 56 59 44 59 55 63 62 57 55 I Would Definitely Wear A Seat Belt If I Knew That I d Have To Pay For Some Of My Medical Bills If I Got Into An Accident 2 Agree Strongly 46 Agree Somewhat 29 Disagree Somewhat 11 Disagree Strongly 13 Don t Know/Refused 2 Strongly/Somewhat 74 Continued 2 Statement asked only of those who, at times, do not wear their seat belts when travelling in a car (n=142). Insufficient sample to report on regional and gender differences. NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 11
TABLE 4A Continued Level Of Agreement With Statements About Traffic Safety Region/Province Gender Atlantic Quebec Ontario MB/SK Alberta B.C. Male Female Base = Actual (1018) (105) (247) (336) (85) (93) (152) (438) (580) Level Of Agreement With Statements: % % % % % % % % % When Seated On An Airplane, People Should Always Wear Their Seat Belts, Not Just During Take-Off And Landing Agree Strongly 34 45 31 35 28 30 34 30 37 Agree Somewhat 23 17 22 23 38 15 26 20 25 Disagree Somewhat 22 20 22 21 23 22 23 23 20 Disagree Strongly 17 6 18 18 7 30 14 22 12 Don t Know/Refused 5 11 7 3 4 3 3 4 5 Strongly/Somewhat 57 62 53 58 66 45 60 51 63 Children Under 12 Years Of Age Should Never Be Allowed To Sit In The Front Seat Of A Car Agree Strongly 40 50 36 45 36 33 36 34 46 Agree Somewhat 20 21 24 16 18 20 24 21 18 Disagree Somewhat 24 18 23 21 30 34 25 25 22 Disagree Strongly 14 10 15 15 12 12 14 16 12 Don t Know/Refused 3 2 2 4 3 1 1 3 2 Strongly/Somewhat 60 70 60 60 55 52 60 55 64 Continued NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 12
TABLE 4A Continued Level Of Agreement With Statements About Traffic Safety Region/Province Gender Atlantic Quebec Ontario MB/SK Alberta B.C. Male Female Base = Actual (1018) (105) (247) (336) (85) (93) (152) (438) (580) Level Of Agreement With Statements: % % % % % % % % % Car Drivers Should Be Allowed To Decide For Themselves Whether Or Not They Want To Wear A Seat Belt Agree Strongly 15 10 14 13 12 34 12 17 12 Agree Somewhat 11 15 12 9 10 13 10 11 10 Disagree Somewhat 11 19 14 8 7 8 15 12 10 Disagree Strongly 63 55 58 70 68 45 64 59 66 Don t Know/Refused 1 1 3 1 3 1 1 2 Strongly/Somewhat 25 25 26 21 22 47 22 28 22 Car Passengers Should Be Allowed To Decide For Themselves Whether Or Not They Want To Wear A Seat Belt Agree Strongly 13 11 12 13 9 25 11 14 12 Agree Somewhat 15 18 15 17 8 17 7 16 13 Disagree Somewhat 12 13 17 8 13 8 16 13 11 Disagree Strongly 59 54 55 61 68 49 65 56 62 Don t Know/Refused 1 4 1 1 2 * 1 1 2 Strongly/Somewhat 28 29 27 30 18 42 19 30 25 Continued NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 13
TABLE 4A Continued Level Of Agreement With Statements About Traffic Safety Region/Province Gender Atlantic Quebec Ontario MB/SK Alberta B.C. Male Female Base = Actual (1018) (105) (247) (336) (85) (93) (152) (438) (580) Level Of Agreement With Statements: % % % % % % % % % All School Buses Should Provide Seat Belts For Passengers Agree Strongly 42 35 32 47 42 41 51 38 46 Agree Somewhat 29 39 32 25 31 26 28 30 28 Disagree Somewhat 12 10 18 11 10 12 8 14 11 Disagree Strongly 13 12 15 12 12 19 10 15 11 Don t Know/Refused 4 4 4 5 6 2 3 4 4 Strongly/Somewhat 71 75 63 72 73 68 80 68 74 All Public Transit Buses Should Provide Seat Belts For Passengers Agree Strongly 26 41 20 24 26 34 27 21 30 Agree Somewhat 30 33 25 28 34 33 34 27 32 Disagree Somewhat 22 21 28 22 17 12 21 25 20 Disagree Strongly 17 2 22 18 17 20 13 22 13 Don t Know/Refused 6 3 5 8 7 1 5 6 6 Strongly/Somewhat 55 74 45 52 60 67 61 48 62 Continued NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 14
TABLE 4A Continued Level Of Agreement With Statements About Traffic Safety Region/Province Gender Atlantic Quebec Ontario MB/SK Alberta B.C. Male Female Base = Actual (1018) (105) (247) (336) (85) (93) (152) (438) (580) Level Of Agreement With Statements: % % % % % % % % % Seat Belts Save Lives Agree Strongly 77 79 72 80 79 62 85 76 77 Agree Somewhat 17 17 24 16 12 19 10 17 17 Disagree Somewhat 3 2 2 2 5 10 2 3 2 Disagree Strongly 2 1 2 1 1 9 2 3 2 Don t Know/Refused 1 * 1 2 3 * 2 1 2 Strongly/Somewhat 94 97 95 95 91 81 95 93 94 Figures percentaged on a base of less than 100 should be interpreted with caution. * Less than 0.5% Note: Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding. NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 15
TABLE 4B Level Of Agreement With Statements About Traffic Safety Age Wear Seat Belt All Of The Time In A Car 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Base = Actual (1018) (876) (144) (191) (301) (201) (181) Level Of Agreement With Statements: % % % % % % % Car Accident Victims Who Did Not Wear Their Seat Belts Should Pay For Some Of Their Medical Bills Agree Strongly 23 24 21 20 21 20 34 Agree Somewhat 33 32 37 37 30 38 25 Disagree Somewhat 18 19 22 22 18 16 12 Disagree Strongly 21 20 18 17 28 22 15 Don t Know/Refused 5 5 2 4 3 5 14 Strongly/Somewhat 56 56 58 57 51 58 59 I Would Definitely Wear A Seat Belt If I Knew That I d Have To Pay For Some Of My Medical Bills If I Got Into An Accident 3 Agree Strongly 46 Agree Somewhat 29 Disagree Somewhat 11 Disagree Strongly 13 Don t Know/Refused 2 Strongly/Somewhat 74 Continued 3 Statement asked only of those who, at times, do not wear their seat belts when travelling in a car (n=142). Insufficient sample to report on age differences. NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 16
TABLE 4B Continued Level Of Agreement With Statements About Traffic Safety Age Wear Seat Belt All Of The Time In A Car 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Base = Actual (1018) (876) (144) (191) (301) (201) (181) Level Of Agreement With Statements: % % % % % % % When Seated On An Airplane, People Should Always Wear Their Seat Belts, Not Just During Take-Off And Landing Agree Strongly 34 36 24 30 28 43 45 Agree Somewhat 23 23 28 23 25 22 15 Disagree Somewhat 22 22 23 23 27 14 20 Disagree Strongly 17 14 23 21 17 15 10 Don t Know/Refused 5 5 2 3 3 6 11 Strongly/Somewhat 57 59 52 53 53 66 60 Children Under 12 Years Of Age Should Never Be Allowed To Sit In The Front Seat Of A Car Agree Strongly 40 41 29 43 41 41 45 Agree Somewhat 20 19 23 20 23 19 11 Disagree Somewhat 24 23 32 20 24 23 20 Disagree Strongly 14 14 15 14 12 14 17 Don t Know/Refused 3 3 2 2 1 3 7 Strongly/Somewhat 60 60 52 63 63 61 56 Continued NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 17
TABLE 4B Continued Level Of Agreement With Statements About Traffic Safety Age Wear Seat Belt All Of The Time In A Car 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Base = Actual (1018) (876) (144) (191) (301) (201) (181) Level Of Agreement With Statements: % % % % % % % Car Drivers Should Be Allowed To Decide For Themselves Whether Or Not They Want To Wear A Seat Belt Agree Strongly 15 11 22 14 11 13 16 Agree Somewhat 11 10 13 16 11 9 6 Disagree Somewhat 11 10 16 12 12 8 8 Disagree Strongly 63 68 47 58 66 70 65 Don t Know/Refused 1 1 2 * * 1 5 Strongly/Somewhat 25 20 36 30 22 22 22 Car Passengers Should Be Allowed To Decide For Themselves Whether Or Not They Want To Wear A Seat Belt Agree Strongly 13 12 14 12 11 13 18 Agree Somewhat 15 13 18 18 15 14 7 Disagree Somewhat 12 11 23 9 13 6 10 Disagree Strongly 59 63 44 60 59 66 62 Don t Know/Refused 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Strongly/Somewhat 28 25 32 30 27 27 25 Continued NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 18
TABLE 4B Continued Level Of Agreement With Statements About Traffic Safety Age Wear Seat Belt All Of The Time In A Car 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Base = Actual (1018) (876) (144) (191) (301) (201) (181) Level Of Agreement With Statements: % % % % % % % All School Buses Should Provide Seat Belts For Passengers Agree Strongly 42 43 37 41 40 40 54 Agree Somewhat 29 28 33 35 28 29 20 Disagree Somewhat 12 13 16 13 15 13 4 Disagree Strongly 13 12 13 8 15 14 12 Don t Know/Refused 4 4 1 3 3 5 10 Strongly/Somewhat 71 71 71 77 68 69 74 All Public Transit Buses Should Provide Seat Belts For Passengers Agree Strongly 26 26 20 23 28 26 28 Agree Somewhat 30 30 33 33 33 20 29 Disagree Somewhat 22 21 22 26 22 26 12 Disagree Strongly 17 17 22 15 13 22 16 Don t Know/Refused 6 6 4 3 4 7 14 Strongly/Somewhat 55 56 53 56 61 45 58 Continued NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 19
TABLE 4B Continued Level Of Agreement With Statements About Traffic Safety Age Wear Seat Belt All Of The Time In A Car 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Base = Actual (1018) (876) (144) (191) (301) (201) (181) Level Of Agreement With Statements: % % % % % % % Seat Belts Save Lives Agree Strongly 77 80 71 79 76 77 81 Agree Somewhat 17 15 22 16 18 17 14 Disagree Somewhat 3 2 4 2 4 2 1 Disagree Strongly 2 2 4 2 1 3 1 Don t Know/Refused 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Strongly/Somewhat 94 95 92 94 94 93 95 Figures percentaged on a base of less than 100 should be interpreted with caution. * Less than 0.5% Note: Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding. NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 20
Methodology For the telephone survey, NFO CFgroup interviewed a nationally representative sample of 1,018 Canadian adults between October 7 and 13, 2002. A survey sample this size is considered accurate within 3.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The margin of error is higher for results broken down by province/region, gender and age. NFO CFgroup s weekly telephone omnibus service, NFO MultiFacts, was used to conduct the survey. Sampling Procedures NFO MultiFacts utilizes a callback sample, comprising one initial call with two additional attempts to secure an interview with a chosen respondent. Within each household the person to be interviewed is randomly selected from all age-eligible residents using the Troldahl-Carter selection method. Telephone numbers are obtained using Plus Digit sampling, a procedure which generates samples of random telephone numbers, ensuring the inclusion of newly listed and unlisted numbers. Separate samples are generated for each survey period. Weighting Prior to tabulation, four stages of weighting are applied to the data. Stage 1 At the first stage is the application of a Central Location Telephone Interviewing Centre (CLT) within the region adjustment applied at the household level to correct for the differential response by CLT. This weighting compensates for the varying productivity of CLTs within region. NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 21
Stage 2 A household size within region weight is applied at the household level to restore the sample to the correct balance of one-person and multiple-person households according to the most recent Statistics Canada information. Stage 3 The individual s household weight is computed because only one person per household is interviewed. The respondent selection weight, i.e., the inverse of selection probability, is applied to the selected respondent. Stage 4 An age within gender within region and major centre adjustment is applied to bring the data in line with the most recent Statistics Canada population estimates. About NFO CFgroup NFO CFgroup is one of Canada's most prestigious full-service marketing, opinion and social research organizations. The company is part of NFO WorldGroup, numbering among the world's largest providers of research-based marketing information and counsel, and a world leader in Internet based research. NFO WorldGroup is a member of The Interpublic Group of Companies. NFO CFgroup Seat Belt Survey October, 2002 22